Capping off week one of OTAs, two pillars of the Chiefs organization discussed the significance of Butker’s recent commencement speech.

So far in the 2024 NFL offseason, a couple of Kansas City Chiefs players have made news for reasons other than their performance on the field. Rashee Rice, a wide receiver, and Harrison Butker, a kicker, have recently been the subject of local and national controversy.

Butker is the latest to face scrutiny after delivering a commencement address at Benedictine College’s graduation that went viral. An order of nuns linked with the school has now stated that they “do not believe” Butker’s statements reflect the institution. The veteran kicker spoke a wide range of topics, with some of his remarks about women sparking heated debate.

Regardless of where people stand, Butker is getting a lot of attention this month. Despite this, head coach Andy Reid does not feel the need to consult with his special teams ace about the impact of his messaging.

Reid spoke for the first time about the Butker situation after the Chiefs’ first OTA practice of the summer.

“Yeah, listen, I talk to Harrison all the time,” answered Reid. “I didn’t talk to him about it because I didn’t believe we needed to. We are a microcosm of life here. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, beliefs, and races, yet we all get along and respect each other’s perspectives. We may not always follow them, but we appreciate everyone’s right to speak up. It’s the best thing about America, man. As I already stated, we are only a microcosm of that. My hope is that everyone can sort of follow that.”

Reid noted that no one has approached him with complaints about the women-specific components of Butker’s speech yet. The longstanding head coach stated that his players are “good” with things right now, indicating a locker room that is not divided despite what was certain to cause problems.

The arguments begin at the top. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, addressing to the media after Reid, said that he disagreed with some of what Butker said. He didn’t go into detail, but the two-time NFL MVP acknowledged that such disconnects are common in his business.

Mahomes decides to take Butker’s character at face value, as he is the man he has worked with since 2017, when they both moved to Kansas City.

“I know Harrison,” Mahomes explained. “I have known him for seven years. I assess him by the character he demonstrates every day, and that is a fine guy. That is someone who cares for others around him, his family, and wants to make a positive contribution to society. The locker room is filled with people from all walks of life. They have a lot of diverse perspectives on everything, and we won’t always agree.

“I don’t agree with everything he says, but I understand who he is. He’s doing everything he can to lead people in the right direction, which may not be the same ideals as mine, but I’m going to assess him based on the character he demonstrates every day, and he’s a terrific person. We’ll keep moving forward and try to assist each other improve every day, but at the end of the day, we’re going to come together as a team, which I believe will also help in eliminating those distractions outside the building.”

Butker’s speech is unlikely to be forgotten in Chiefs circles. Its impact is substantial in the wake of Benedictine’s graduation ceremony, and disputes over it continue nearly two weeks later. However, the crew, which is close-knit, is focused on maintaining control over what happens inside the facility.